Could you use your skills and experience to support and help grow one of the secret treasures of the West Midlands?
We look after 40 acres of sublime 18th century formal Gardens and a surrounding historic Parkland (a Local Nature Reserve), all surrounded by fast roads and industrial landscapes.
The rare (Grade 2*) formal garden, and much valued piece of ‘the wild’, are of national significance, were rescued 40 years ago. But are still not known well enough – not even by our 80,000 near neighbours Birmingham and Solihull. We want to keep this green and historical gem safe for generations to come. We are even more passionate about sharing it; with visitors and tourists, yes, but even more so with the surrounding local communities for many of whom it is the only accessible open land and cultural space.
The Gardens are open all year round and staff and volunteers run more than 100 activities and events: from forest schools and wildlife walks to creative activities and culture: theatre, arts and music.
We get people involved in caring for nature, improving their wellbeing and finding inspiration in history and beauty.
As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Trust’s formation we are going through a Governance refresh and very much looking forward to the next phase with new people, new ideas and new skills to help us expand and thrive.
We are a tiny trust with a large responsibility, doing amazing things for a growing number of people. We’d welcome your skills and talent to guide us to the future.
What’s needed? What’s involved?
As a Trustee you will be used to working in a team and have some leadership or management experience.
We particularly need people with skills in the following areas:
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- Business change; business and financial planning (especially in independent and heritage sectors).
- Planning and building (helping us move towards building new visitor buildings)
- Fundraising: grants as well as individual giving
- Food and Retail development.
- Marketing and communications: digital and otherwise.
- And of course Historic Garden Management and Horticulture
Trustees meet every 6-8 weeks and ‘hybrid’ meetings are available for those not able to attend in person.
As a Trustee you will have:
- Induction, familiarisation and training for the role;
- Opportunities to make strategic decisions and develop new skills and experiences;
- Influence to shape innovative projects and our overall direction;
- The chance to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities;
- The opportunity to contribute to a sustainable future for an important heritage/conservation site
If you think you may have something to offer – and to gain – from being a Trustee please explore our website here to find out more about us, what we do and hope to do. We would be happy to have an inital conversation with you and answer more questions.
In the first instance please email cbhallgardens@gmail.com
For information about the responsibilities and benefits of being a heritage trustee please see the excellent information from the Association of Independent Museums (AIM ) here
Here is a shareable flyer of the Trustee callout (PDF) Trustee CALL OUT
Also Here is an outline, generic role description of a Trustee.
